I always found the ” white noise ” of running / circulating water to help me get to sleep. Until 9 months ago I had an aquarium w / bubbling air filter, then when I was a kid, my bedroom was right next to the bathroom & the sound of people showering, etc., helped Morpheus to arrive more frequently. 🙂

There was a thread about this on a music forum a couple of years ago, you wouldn’t believe what people listen to to go to sleep O__o There was even a guy who had to travel a lot for work and always carried with him his electric fan, not because of the heat, but because he couldn’t sleep without its noise…

Depending on my mood, the steady hum of a fluorescent light eitther can be very calming or it annoys the HELL out of me. Some of them can be deceptively loud.
& for some reason, as a kid, the noise of a power substation ( not that we lived next to one ! 😉 ) always seemed strangely SOLID & reassuring.

When I was young I could only sleep if the radio was playing. Music kept me awake but talk radio was calm and soothing.In more recent years I’d listen to the repetitious NOAA bouy and weather data. Steady, calm, solid.

My mom had a shortwave receiver when I was in my late teens & 20’s. The sound was always relaxing & reassuring. Sometimes I’d sit w / her & listen to the different stations coming in from across the planet, even if we couldn’t always understand the language ( s ). Before I got my 1st personal computer, before the Internet was available to everyone, this was MAGIC to me. Magic moments !

I always had the intention of getting my SW license. I even joined an Explorer Scouts group where the emphasis was on SW communication. I had to get a license for that, but the requirement to learn Morse Code tripped me up.

My mom’s SW receiver even picked up staccato transmissions that I’m sure came from satellites. That radio was almost as good as an Internet connection.

I’ll bet they could intercept cellular & Wi – Fi transmissions, which were still the stuff of sci – fi back then.

I left that in hoping it would speak for itself. You are so right. Firstly, in my former life I had a certain level of training in recognizing signs of Autism and Aspergers. I am not at all an expert, but nothing there stands out as a red flag. In fact, certain things in the story could argue against it. But what struck me was the earnestness of the comment. Are we so over-protective that a kid that doesn’t fit the norm must be sick, need treatment, and be stigmatized?

“Are we so over-protective that a kid that doesn’t fit the norm must be sick, need treatment, and be stigmatized?”

I guess so. I’m sure there is a drug to treat this poor child who had the misfortune of becoming obsessed with toilets instead of LEGO. Or Matchbox cars. Or comic books. Or something more socially acceptable and appropriate.

I used to work with some people, 1 of whom was severely autistic. Children w / autism often relate BETTER to inanimate objects than to people. I know that’s a broad generalization, but it’s pretty much on – target.

Yeah, but if you watch the video the kid seems to have no issues communicating or relating to other people. He seems normal in every way except for a strong fixation on toilets. I think he’s odd, not undiagnosed.